Tag / how to wear a blazer

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Wear a Blazer This Summer, The Right Way

Well, my friends. The time is upon us. Perhaps you’ve got a summer wedding to attend, or an outdoor soiree, or an evening of cocktails — or just a busy day at the office, packed with meetings. If you’re looking for an #OOTD that really can tackle all of those situations, my guide on how to wear a blazer can help you get the job done the right way. It’s all about finding one of the best summer jackets for men, and then making the rest of your look work for you. After all, it’s sweltering out there, but you still want to look crisp and put-together. That’s precisely where the ultra-lightweight Buck Mason Carry-On Jacket comes into play — it’s breezy, yet polished, and you can wear it with other similarly lightweight style essentials.

And those style essentials, my friends, are perfectly geared towards the heat of the season ahead. We’re talking a lightweight performance polo made with breathability in mind, plus a pair of the best chinos for men and it only gets better (and cooler) from there. No matter what the day throws at you, this #OOTD can help you get where you need to go and look great doing it. Let’s see what’s on the way, shall we?

Best way for men to wear a blazer this spring

 

  • The Blazer: Buck Mason Carry-On Jacket, $150 — This lightweight cotton jacket is a perfectly breezy summer blazer you can wear anywhere that calls for one of the best summer jackets for men.
  • The Polo: Rhoback Blue Sky Performance Polo, $79 — Reach for a moisture-wicking performance polo to stay cool and dry — in style — this summer. It’s one of the best polos to wear with a blazer, I declare.
  • The Chinos: Mott and Bow Charles Twill Chinos, $99 — The key with keeping this #OOTD polished and yet casual is a pair of the best chinos for men. You can wear these for whatever the weekend or work week calls for, from meetings to happy hour to that Friday getaway.
  • The Loafers: Astorflex Patnoflex Loafers, $185 — These refined leather loafers are as dressy and yet versatile as it gets. Wear them as often as possible this season.
  • The Watch: Shinola Runwell Automatic Watch, $1,095 — Splurge on this investment-level watch from Shinola, the kind you can wear to big-time meetings, summer weddings and refined cocktail hours aplenty.
  • The Sunglasses: Maui Jim Kawika Sunglasses, $300 — Here they are. Pick up your new favorite pair of sunglasses, then proceed to wear them with this blazer all summer long.
  • The Grooming Essential: The Art Of Shaving Peppermint Facial Scrub, $25 — Give your skin a lift and remove dirt & grime from your face all the while with this Art Of Shaving facial scrub. It’s a true men’s grooming essential to whip your mug into shape, whatever your day calls for.
  • The Everyday Carry: Bellroy A5 Work Folio, $199 — If the scenario in question is more casual, leave this leather folio at home. But if you’re putting this #OOTD to good use throughout a busy work day, well, you’re in luck — it’s an everyday carry essential you really do need.

Alright, if you’re feeling a bit more ready to face the world in style now this season, you’re assuredly not alone. It all starts out with one of the best summer jackets for men, the proper way to stay cool and breezy while looking great. Throw on that jacket over a stylish performance polo, and then pair that reliably lightweight combo with a pair of the best chinos for men. It all gets even better when you step out with a proper pair of shoes: The Astorflex Patnoflex Loafers really drive home the excellent, easygoing-yet-sharp style of this summer #OOTD.

I’m also a big fan of the right accessories, including your new favorite pair of sunglasses and an investment-level watch from Shinola.  It all sounds pretty great, does it not? Get your face in shape for big meetings and outdoor weddings with a premium Art Of Shaving facial scrub, and then outfit your EDC properly with a true everyday carry essential from Bellroy. What do you think of this #OOTD? Let me know in the comments below — happy shopping! 

Advertisement
by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Dress Down a Blazer This Winter

We’ve talked in the past here on The Style Guide about how to dress for the office, but we’re now taking that a step further today — how to dress down your blazer the right way. The move here involves dressing it down for a nice blend of workwear-inspired, ruggedly casual office style. It’s a tricky balance to get right, but I think you’ll find the below #OOTD gets the job done just fine (pun intended). The trick comes in the blazer you pick, and the supporting cast with which you surround yourself. In this case, the blazer in question is the unstructured, laidback-yet-polished Outerknown Ambassador Blazer — but more on that in a second.

In other matters, the rest of these men’s style essentials might look more like pieces you wear on the weekend: Consider a rugged Taylor Stitch henley and the durable-as-heck Flint and Tinder Mill Pants to now be stylish and essential enough to wear to the office. The key, again, comes with blending it all together in a way that’s polished and cool — not stuffy. So, you’ll also find a stylish leather watch and grooming essentials from Duke Cannon in the mix. It can be a bit uncomfortable at first to mix and match pieces that you normally feel might not work together, but when you put your mind to it … it all falls into place. See for yourself below, then check out my #OOTD rotation over on Instagram.

Can you dress down a blazer? Yes, with this #OOTD … you sure can.

  • The Blazer: Outerknown Ambassador Blazer, $325 — When wearing a blazer more casually (like with a stylish henley), reach for one that’s unstructured and easygoing — Outerknown has just the ticket. (While we’re at it, head here to get a discount on Outerknown).
  • The Henley: Taylor Stitch Heavy Bag Henley in Natural, $68 — If ever there was a henley to wear with a blazer, it’d be this rugged Taylor Stitch henley. Right?
  • The Pants: Flint and Tinder Mill Pants, $98 — Mixing workwear with more dressy style staples can be a bit of a daring move, but the rugged Flint and Tinder Mill Pants balance out the two nicely.
  • The Jacket: Taylor Stitch Winslow Parka, $238.98 — You’re still going to need one of the best men’s winter jackets for a little while longer — Taylor Stitch strikes again here, helping you get to the office and stay dry while doing it.
  • The Boots: Allen Edmonds Normandy Captoe Boots, $295 — Rugged leather lace-up boots are the go-to move here, particularly as you fight the elements in business casual style.
  • The Stylish Leather Watch: Martenero Ace Watch, $595 — This handsome leather watch is bold enough for the weekend & subtly stylish enough for the office.
  • The Grooming Essential: Duke Cannon Bourbon Solid Cologne, $25 — Try something new on for size — this refined cologne from Duke Cannon is truly like no other, and that’s why I love it.
  • The Everyday Carry Essential: This Is Ground Mod 5 Organizer, $385 — The right way to organize your daily work must-haves? This Is Ground, of course. Stylish AND sleek.

Shop Faherty Brand

So, we’re calling this meeting to a close today in terms of how to dress down your blazer — did this #OOTD get you thinking outside of the box a little bit? Again, it all comes down to making sure your blazer (in this case, the Outerknown Ambassador Blazer) is laidback and stylish enough to wear with pieces like a rugged Taylor Stitch henley and of course, the workwear-inspired Flint and Tinder Mill Pants. You get more assistance at bridging the gap between the rugged and the office-ready with the suitably tough-yet-classic Allen Edmonds Normandy Captoe Boots (a personal favorite as seen on GearMoose!). The other accessories do the heavy lifting here, too. That includes the exceptional Martenero Ace Watch (possibly the best leather watch to buy now), plus the essential Duke Cannon Solid Cologne. Both of those bring this ensemble right to the office. And for when the weather gets to be too rough? The durable Taylor Stitch Winslow Parka helps you stay dry in style. Every single base is covered, from what to wear on your commute to what to wear at the office — casually, of course.  Again, check out my Instagram to see how I’m dressing for the office on the daily. Thanks for reading!


Shop Faherty Brand

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Wear a Blazer When It’s Hot This Summer

Let’s get down to business right off the bat — in the remaining time we’ve got this summer, you should certainly be considering how to wear a blazer this summer.  That’s especially true for when it’s hot out — like, really hot out. You’ll surely need all the help you can get. It seems simple enough at first, yet there are plenty of #menswear tips and tricks to consider when throwing on a streamlined suit jacket or a lightweight, classic blazer. For one, you’re going to want to start your search for the perfect summer jacket by going both lighter in weight and lighter in color — fabric blends that incorporate linen, like the option we’ll discuss in today’s #OOTD, are the way to go. The featured jacket in today’s ensemble does a nice job of checking both of those boxes — that featured jacket just happens to be he Taylor Stitch Telegraph Jacket, featuring a pleasantly earthy (yet summer-ready) charcoal color and a stretchy wool-linen blend. The fit is going to be modern, classic and easily wearable with other summer style essentials — a slim navy polo among them. Like other entries in our #OOTD series, it’s all geared toward casual, versatile and seasonally friendly style. But I won’t give the rest away — that’s for you to find out. Got questions on all things style and men’s lifestyle? Fire off a Tweet in  my direction, and keep up with all of my summer men’s style tips on Instagram.

Take your favorite lightweight blazer and pair it with a sharp polo and classic men’s dress shoes.

The Jacket: Taylor Stitch Telegraph Jacket, $278 —  You certainly know the Taylor Stitch brand and its body of handsome, stylish work — this stylish suit jacket functions just as well as a blazer, with more style and comfort to boot.

The Polo: Flint and Tinder Supima AirKnit Polo, $68 — Certainly, you can swap in your favorite navy polo here without buying this sharp, well-made option from Flint and Tinder… but why would ya want to do that?

The Pocket Square: J. Crew Cotton Pocket Square, $45 — A somewhat overlooked accessory that’s still crucial here — the cotton pocket square livens this outfit up and provides visual contrast to the casual polo.

The Trousers: Banana Republic Slim Non-Iron Cotton Stretch Pant, $89.50 — For solid, well-fitting and accessibly priced work staples, Banana Republic knows how to set you up. The light blue color contrasts nicely against the navy polo and light charcoal jacket, too.

Florsheim

The Belt: Banana Republic Stretch Leather Belt, $34.50 (On-Sale) — Might as well get your belt from the same spot you get your pants, right? This textured stretch belt is versatile and not overly dressy.

The Shoes: Allen Edmonds Strandmok Cap Toe Oxford, $295 — A positively gorgeous pair of exquisite footwear, crafted to last from the excellent footwear purveyors at Allen Edmonds.

The Socks: Arvin Goods No-Show Socks (Three-pack), $30 — You guessed it, folks. We’re actually going with no-show socks here — cuff those trousers a bit for European-inspired style points.

Nautica

The Watch: About Vintage 1844 Chronograph,$309.98 — Similar in nature to the refined, sleek and yet accessible Spirit of St. Louis Chronograph from Armogan, this About Vintage timepiece channels wearable, eye-catching style.

The Sunglasses: Knockaround Fast Lanes Sunglasses, $19.98— If you don’t yet have a pair of  stylish summer sunglasses in your rotation, then I’d say … you need the simple, durable and ridiculously well-priced Knockaround Fast Lanes Sunglasses. How much better can it get?

What’s the biggest key to keep in mind when styling a blazer this summer? In addition to finding that perfect fit for your stylish summer jacket, lightweight fabric is critical. The Taylor Stitch Telegraph Jacket  knocks it out of the park in that regard, and it’s able to be layered up casually with the crisp-yet-laidback Flint and Tinder Supima AirKnit Polo. A patterned pocket square rounds things out on your top half, and light blue trousers and a rich brown leather belt should provide solid visual interest to complete the main components of this summer-ready #OOTD. And when it comes to footwear? There’s hardly a more reliably stylish and well-crafted American footwear brand than Allen Edmonds — just don’t forget your stylish no-show socks. And before you leave the house, I’d strongly advise you to strap on a stylish leather watch from About Vintage — it’s vintage inspiration without the vintage price tag. The same can be said for those handy, durable Knockaround Fast Lanes Sunglasses. That’ll wrap things up for today — as always, the difference is in the details. How will you be styling your polo and blazer for the rest of the summer?

Stay stylish and stay cool,

-Beau

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Wear A Chambray Blazer

Editor’s note: You’ve surely seen this hashtag lots of different places, including on Instagram. But how does that carry over to real life? The #OOTD will take one great item and put together a versatile, stylish outfit around it. Look for past features here.

When the heat waves start to roll in, it can be a tricky time to try and dress well. There’s that ever-difficult balance between keeping your cool and looking cool that requires you mix things up a bit. In the case of today’s post, that means we’re talking how to wear a chambray blazer. It’s the lightweight alternative to the classic navy blazer, what with a rougher, more visually interesting texture and (usually) less internal construction. That means it looks more natural when paired with other casual menswear pieces, such as a simple T-shirt and twill pants. It’s a get-up that nods toward a trend (that would be the menswear world getting more and more casual by the day), yet you still look crisp and put-together. As you’ll see with the below #OOTD, it’s a look you could even pull off as you dress for summer travel.  So with that being said, get to reading below. For more #menswear inspiration, check out yours truly on Instagram, or swing on through Facebook for a daily briefing.
Ben Sherman

An effortless mix of casual and cool -- a chambray blazer plus a simple striped tee.

An effortless mix of casual and cool — a chambray blazer plus a simple striped tee.

 

The Blazer: JackThreads Chambray Blazer, $79: A chambray blazer for just $79? Believe it. Slim, stylish and well-made, from a brand that just gets things done.

The T-shirt: Bourbon and Blue Surfcomber Heathered Red Stripe Tee, $55: If you’re going to rock a tee under a blazer, it’s best to pick up one that’s comfortable, well-made and trim-fitting; warm weather stripes don’t hurt, either.

The Pants: Old Navy Ultimate Slim-Fit Khakis, $29: While the color of the chinos in that particular picture is lighter than the pair on Old Navy’s site, the principle remains the same — slim khakis fall in line with that trim blazer and tee, and can be easily rolled to show off those sneakers.

The Sneakers: GREATS Pronto in Cadet, $199: GREATS does, well, a great job at producing versatile, comfortable sneakers that are easy to wear with high-low style combos  like a blazer and tee (Italian manufacturing just does that).

The Socks: J. Crew Anchor No-show Socks, $10: Stylish no-show socks are an absolute summer must, and these add another subtle, nautical touch to the outfit while keeping your feet cool.

The Belt: J. Crew Factory Double-striped Webbing Belt, $14.50: As much as it’s popped up in a few recent #OOTD posts (including this post on how to wear a short-sleeve shirt), it’s a highly versatile casual belt that adds some nice color to this ensemble.

The Watch: Timex Weekender Fairfield, $75: Timex watches are as solid as they get, and this particular timepiece is suitably refined enough to heighten that blazer-and-tee combo just a bit.

The Accessory: Cambridge Satchel Oxblood iPhone Case, $32: So not everyone still has an iPhone (just me?), but regardless of what phone you’ve got, it’d be a neat touch to finish off your everyday with a rich leather phone case.

Does that check all the boxes of dressing sharply in warm weather? Well, mostly. If you feel a tee is too casual, you could always swap in an essential chambray shirt or a classic blue Oxford. But the best part about pairing a tee with a chambray blazer is the combination of effortless style and comfort it gives you. It’s an on-the-go style move that meets the warm weather while looking cool and sharp. Plus, it works well when paired with a classic set of navy sneakers — a more comfortable answer to brown leather wingtips, for starters. And crisp accessories, like a lux leather phone case and a dependable watch, are going to be by your side (and on your wrist) for plenty of outfits in the future. Even starting gradually (swapping out denim for twill pants and upgrading to a lighter chambray blazer) can be a step in the right direction. Still unsure? Give it a try –it might become a go-to style combo.

Are you sold on the idea of pairing a blazer with a striped tee? What about sneakers? Let me know in the comments!

Frank & Oak

 

Buck Mason - Timeless Design. Made in America.

 

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Dress Down a Wool Blazer

Editor’s note: You’ve surely seen this hashtag lots of different places, including on Instagram. But how does that carry over to real life? The #OOTD series will take one great item and put together a versatile, stylish outfit around it. Look for past features here.

With winter weather still in full force for a lot of us, there can be a tendency to get into a bit of a style rut. That is, there are only so many ways you can style a shawl-collar cardigan or a crewneck sweater  before you want to change things up a bit. The good news is that, for so many of us, high-low dressing (that is, mixing and matching casual and formal pieces) is easier to do than ever before, regardless of what you might find yourself doing day-to-day. The below outfit makes use of some staples you likely already have in your closet (like dark denim, for starters) and puts ’em together in a slightly unexpected way. As a matter of fact, you might recognize the blazer from last week’s #OOTD post. Get the lowdown here, and then get those goods in your shopping cart.

Putting it all together -- combining style essentials you might already have in your closet.

Putting it all together — combining style essentials you might already have in your closet.

The Blazer: Frank & Oak Fairmount Deconstructed Blazer in Light Brown, $145 –A slim, soft sportcoat with a tailored fit and minimal padding — ideal for casual wear.

The Henley: JackThreads Daily Henley in Indigo, $34 — A great price for a superb piece that’ll age well over time; the “dressed-down” part of this outfit.

The Denim: Mott & Bow Skinny Mosco Denim, $96 — A classic pair of denim with great color and a nice bit of stretch (full review here). Note that Slim and Straight options are also available.

The Shoes: Frank & Oak Modern Leather Brogues in Dark Tan, $175 — Italian leather and European construction takes this pair to another level, plus  the color stands out remarkably well against the denim. Click here for a full Frank & Oak review.

The Socks: Anonymous Ism Wave Socks, $25 — Definitely a pricey splurge, but worth it for the quality and nice color they provide.

The Watch: Timex Waterbury Watch, $80 — A new Style Guide favorite; very well-priced, clean and classic. The ideal blend of casual and classed-up style.

Oh, and seeing as it is winter and all, finish off your oufit with my picks for the best winter accessories.

So with the above outfit in mind, I’d say give it a try just as soon as you can — when you pick up style staples that fit well and can be mixed and matched with ease, you’ll give yourself plenty of #OOTD options.

Would you rock the above look? How do you dress down your blazer?